We focus on optimizing our clients’ enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. So they can focus on what matters most–shaping the future by preparing leaders, advancing healthcare, and building communities.
Strategic partnerships
Our decades-long relationships with Workday and Oracle give us an industry advantage allowing us to customize your ERP system to precisely fit your organization’s unique needs.
Our comprehensive expertise
Our consultants’ proven track record working with top industry leaders allows us to guide you through strategic decisions – ensuring your ERP capabilities align with your organizational goals for sustainable growth.
Global industry knowledge
Our unique industry insights enable us to bring you the latest trends and best practices in higher education government, and nonprofit, helping you stay competitive and innovative in a rapidly changing landscape.
Enhancing Efficiency and Effectiveness in Higher Education through Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Optimization
In this thought-provoking position paper, Synexis Consulting delves into the realm of higher education, shedding light on the untapped potential of optimizing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and processes. By embracing the mantra of “work smarter, not harder,” this paper explores innovative strategies for raising the bar in higher education institutions. Discover how ERP optimization can maximize impact, minimize risk, and pave the way for a transformative future in academia.
Our experience
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The staff at University of Southern California (USC) began a program to significantly improve their administrative and operational systems, including the implementation of Workday HCM. They needed support along the way.
Synexis delivered:
Readiness Analysis (prior to implementing Workday HCM)
Assessment and Risk Analysis (assessment results led to regular Project Quality Assurance [QA] Reviews)
Project Leadership Support, Change Support, Workday Optimization Planning Analysis and Stabilization and Support Structure Analysis (after the QA Review Reports identified significant challenges, key issues, and risks that needed to be mitigated)
Support to their ROI Analysis, Business Case Development, and Workday Optimization Operations Analysis (after successful implementation of Workday HCM, along with Financials and Research systems)
IT Operations Guidance, including helping to develop USC’s IT strategic plan and analyzing the consolidation of IT services from two departments into one IT department
The University of Pittsburgh was interested in transforming its key administrative functions, including Finance, Human Capital Management and Student by procuring and implementing a cloud ERP system.
Synexis delivered:
Business Case Development for Cloud ERP System to help the university with its procurement process and the development of a business case to provide the logic of why this initiative is so important to the university
Syracuse University (SU) staff made the decision to upgrade, streamline, and implement new modules of PeopleSoft HCM as a bridge solution before they would consider going to the cloud for their ERP system.
They also needed to perform IT Operations Guidance activities by analyzing their current financial and administrative systems while supporting Accenture as Accenture developed strategies to enhance the SU IT data center operations.
Synexis delivered:
Project Quality Assurance (QA) Reviews
Project Leadership Support to ensure a timely go-live
Analysis of the IT spend across the university and within IT, followed by development of a long-term strategic plan
The University of British Columbia (UBC) implemented Workday HCM, Financials, and Student. Given the project’s scale, UBC required a third-party consultant for strategic advisory throughout its duration. While in the architect stage for HCM and Finance and the planning stage for Student, UBC relied extensively on Synexis.
Synexis delivered:
Project Leadership Support
Workday Optimization Planning Analysis, Readiness Support, and Workday alignment
The University of Maryland implemented Workday HCM, Financials, and Student for its administrative and student business processes. As a key way to reduce risk, it hired Synexis to assist.
Synexis delivered:
Bi-monthly Project Quality Assurance (QA) Reviews to identify key risks and mitigation strategies for the project team to consider moving forward
The Ohio State University (OSU) has been a PeopleSoft System customer for 20+ years. During that time, they have upgraded the HRMS and Student applications on a regular basis.
While performing the upgrades, OSU needed to conduct third-party Project Quality Assurance (QA) Reviews.
Once OSU upgraded HRMS and Student to their current versions, they decided to look to cloud solutions for Financials and potentially HCM and Student, requiring an assessment that included ROI Analysis and Business Case Development, Readiness Analysis and Workday Application Assessment.
Once the university decided to move forward with Workday for HCM, Financials, and Student, leadership utilized Synexis for Project Leadership Support, Workday Optimization Planning Analysis, and Stabilization and Support Structure Analysis to initiate the project.
Synexis delivered:
Project Quality Assurance (QA) Reviews
ROI Analysis and Business Case Development Assessments
Readiness Analysis and Workday Application Assessment
Project Leadership Support
Workday Optimization Planning Analysis and Stabilization and Support Structure Analysis to initiate the project
The University of Rochester (UR) partnered with Workday to become the first R1 institution to implement Student functionality. UR went live with the core aspects of Student in July 2019, including Records, Advising, and Student Financials. Prior to going live, UR consulted with Synexis.
Synexis delivered:
Bi-monthly Project Quality Assurance (QA) Reviews
Strategic Advising Support for the testing, change management, and operations support model development aspects of the project
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) implemented Workday HCM. As the project progressed, CMU began to have issues that delayed their implementation.
They needed an assessment and risk analysis. The results of the assessment led CMU leadership to hire Synexis in a project leadership role throughout the project duration.
Synexis delivered:
Clemson University provides Medicaid systems (MITS) support for the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services by helping to transition the systems and application support directly to the state. Clemson needed strategic advisory and quality assurance services to support the transition program.
Synexis delivered:
Advisory and quality assurance services to support the transition program. Synexis was able to help Clemson get organized and develop a consistent and effective approach.
Additionally, because Clemson’s administrative systems enterprise resource planning platform currently was on-premises, Synexis assessed it, including HR, payroll, and financial business processes. The analysis included a review of the current cloud systems and the development of a ten-year total cost of ownership analysis. The independent analysis concluded that the business case for Clemson to consider moving its current systems to more modern cloud systems was strong and financially viable.
Arizona State University needed a third-party, independent firm to provide project quality assurance (QA) reviews throughout its project to help identify and reduce risk. And a readiness assessment to ensure optimal success, prior to going live with its Workday Financial System.
Synexis delivered:
Quarterly QA reviews throughout the duration of the project that identified key risks and mitigation strategies for the project team to consider.
Customized readiness assessments that resulted in the identification of key areas of focus the project team needed to consider prior to go-live. The project was not only very successful, but on time and on budget.
Santa Cruz launched the Salesforce CRM Program, a multi-year initiative leveraging Salesforce to overhaul their constituent relationship management functions. Synexis, working with Summit provided ongoing advisory and change management support, risk management, readiness validation, and post-go-live optimization planning.
Synexis delivered:
The New School (TNS) launched the Salesforce CRM Program, a multi-year initiative leveraging Salesforce to overhaul their constituent relationship management functions. Synexis, working with Summit provided ongoing advisory and change management support, risk management, readiness validation, and post-go-live optimization planning.
Synexis delivered:
On Lok engaged Synexis to lead their Oracle Cloud implementation for HR and Finance, ensuring strong executive project management and governance. Synexis is providing leadership bridging Oracle, implementation partners, and executives, managed contracts and change orders, and guided change management efforts.
Synexis delivered:
Synexis, in partnership with the University of Illinois System Administrative Information Technology Services (AITS) organization, conducted a comprehensive ERP readiness assessment for the University of Illinois System, analyzing the current environment and providing a future roadmap aligned with industry trends toward cloud SaaS models. The study also evaluated ERP usage among 36 peer institutions, revealing a strong shift toward cloud platforms like Workday and Oracle.
Synexis delivered:
Washington State University implemented Workday Financials and Human Capital Management with an emphasis on risk reduction through an independent Quality Assurance process. Synexis and ISG provided monthly QA reviews to ensure project alignment and risk mitigation during planning and implementation.
Synexis delivered:
The University of Washington launched the UW Financial Transformation Program, a multi-year initiative leveraging Workday Financials to overhaul financial functions. Synexis provided ongoing advisory support across ROI analysis, risk management, readiness validation, and post-go-live optimization planning.
Synexis delivered:
As the University of Virginia replaced its financial system and transformed its financial processes, Synexis provided third-party independent verification and validation (IV&V) services for their comprehensive and transformational Workday Financials project.
Synexis delivered:
Before committing to a new financial system, the University of Arizona needed to assess institutional readiness at academic and administrative levels. Synexis, in partnership with ISG, conducted a thorough financial system readiness assessment to inform the decision-making process.
Synexis delivered:
The Columbus Foundation sought to replace its operational platform encompassing finance, constituent management, and grants management. Synexis supported the Foundation through the analysis, design, and implementation phases, providing advisory expertise to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Synexis delivered:
The Claremont Colleges (TCC) implemented Workday Student and prioritized risk mitigation by engaging Synexis to perform bi-monthly Quality Assurance reviews. These reviews identified key risks and mitigation strategies, enabling TCC’s project team to proactively address challenges. Additionally, Synexis provided strategic guidance to enhance organizational readiness and change management efforts.
Synexis delivered:
Pomona College decided to implement Workday Student. To ensure project success and drive user adoption, Pomona leadership engaged Synexis to develop and execute a comprehensive change management strategy.
Synexis delivered:
Synexis conducted a comprehensive ERP assessment to help Ivy Tech evaluate their existing ERP systems, define a clear future-state vision, and guide the selection of solutions best suited to their evolving needs. Ivy Tech’s objective is to significantly enhance their administrative and operational capabilities through this transformation.
Synexis delivered:
Huntington Library leadership recognized the need to better align their IT operations with overall business goals, prompting the decision to develop a comprehensive IT strategy. Before proceeding with the development and execution of an IT Strategic Plan, the Library engaged Synexis to conduct an ROI analysis and business case development to validate the investment.
Following the positive validation, Huntington Library engaged Synexis to assist in developing the IT Strategic Plan to provide clear guidance for the IT organization. As part of the plan’s execution, Synexis also provided ongoing project leadership support.
One key initiative involved assessing readiness for a new cloud-based ERP system. Synexis performed a comprehensive readiness assessment to determine the Library’s preparedness to adopt cloud applications for administrative systems. Based on these findings, Huntington Library leadership proceeded with the implementation of Workday HCM and Financials to enhance their administrative functions.
Synexis delivered:
The Everglades Foundation engaged Synexis to provide outsourced CIO support and develop and execute a multi-year IT plan. The plan covers the key aspects of the Foundation’s business impacted by information technology. In addition, Synexis is providing leadership support as the Foundation implements Salesforce.
Synexis delivered:
ECDI leadership decided to develop, implement, and operationalize a three-year IT plan. To support this initiative, ECDI engaged Synexis to lead the plan’s development. Following its completion and approval by leadership, Synexis was also tasked with facilitating the plan’s successful implementation.
Synexis delivered:
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) was implementing Oracle Finance and Human Capital Management to enhance its core administrative operations. To successfully navigate this complex, multi-vendor initiative, ETSU sought expert advisory support. Synexis was instrumental as the Project Advisor, collaborating closely with ETSU leadership, Oracle, and the implementation partner.
Synexis delivered:
Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) undertook the replacement of its HR, Payroll, and Finance systems. Before finalizing their application choice, CMSD engaged Synexis to conduct an ROI analysis, develop a business case, and perform a readiness assessment. Based on these insights, CMSD proceeded with the selection process, with Synexis providing project leadership support throughout. Ultimately, CMSD selected Workday as their ERP system and successfully implemented the solution.
Synexis delivered:
As a member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium, Claremont McKenna College had already implemented Workday HCM and Financials. During the Workday Student rollout, CMC required additional oversight and strategic guidance. Synexis was engaged to provide comprehensive advisory services throughout the project lifecycle.
Synexis delivered: